The practice of giving voice in Swedish disability organizations: from political social movements to lobbying professionals?

Research on advocacy in the context of disability organizations has directed focus to the politics of disability and to what extent advocacy reflects an inclusive strategy practiced by disability organizations. In this paper... [ view full abstract ]

Research on advocacy in the context of disability organizations has directed focus to the politics of disability and to what extent advocacy reflects an inclusive strategy practiced by disability organizations. In this paper we highlight somewhat different perspectives of advocacy and political voice as practiced by disability organizations. Based on survey material from Swedish non-profit disability organizations we investigate how factors linked to relational, organizational and environmental aspects may lead to Swedish non-profit organizations holding back in their critique towards local government. Recent research on advocacy and non-profit organizations (NPOs) suggests that resource dependency can be an incentive to engage in advocacy. However, research also points at the difficulties in exploring the nature of advocacy, and in assessing whether advocacy has been compromised as a consequence of, for example, resource dependency.

The paper reports from an ongoing project on Swedish disability NPOs. Preliminary results support discussions about both nature and content of advocacy in the wake of a changing social welfare state. In spite of some degree of resource dependency, organizations do not hold back in their critique of the local municipality that fund their activities. Results also reveal that advocacy is primarily exerted through informal contacts with local politicians and officials. While this can be interpreted as a sign that these civil society based organizations are indeed an important critical voice in the context of social welfare policy, it also suggests that the means through which voice is expressed are not transparent. Based on a historical perspective of changes within the disability movement in Sweden, the paper discusses the meaning of the survey results and raises questions regarding the future function and representative role of Swedish disability NPOs.